Knossos, Mavrospelio. 1700-1600 BC This elegant gold ring was a funerary offering accompanying a high-status burial in the Mavrospelio Cemetery near Knossos. This is a unique find, because it bears a spiral incised inscription in Linear A, a script that has not yet been deciphered. The arrangement of the inscription is comparable to that of …

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Phaistos. c. 1700-1650 BC The Phaistos Disc is one of the most iconic yet enigmatic artefacts of the Minoan civilization. It was discovered by Italian archaeologist Luigi Pernier in a room of the Palace of Phaistos on the 3rd of July 1908. It is a clay disc with inscriptions arranged in a spiral pattern. Both …

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Phaistos. 1500 – 1450 BC This elaborate jug, decorated with dense reeds, is meant for pouring liquids at banquets and ceremonies. It stands out for its exquisite decoration of reeds covering the whole surface, seemingly growing from a wavy ground, perhaps indicating a riverine landscape. It is thought to be the work of the so-called …

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Palace of Knossos. 1700-1450 BC The striking “draughtboard” found in the Palace of Knossos is a gaming board made of precious materials. The surface is formed of inlaid elements set into a rectangular base, probably of wood, which has not been preserved. The frame of the board is made of ivory plated with gold leaf …

The “Draughtboard”. Luxury gaming board. Read More »

Koumasa, Tholos Tomb Β. 2400 – 1800 BC This microscopic gold pendant in the shape of a crouching frog is thought to be the earliest piece of goldwork carved in the round in Prepalatial Crete. It accompanied a burial in Tholos Tomb B at Koumasa in the Mesara, which was excavated by Stephanos Xanthoudides in …

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Koumasa. 2700 – 2400 BC Marble figurines are characteristic creations of Cycladic culture in the 3rd millennium BC. The Cycladic-type figurines found in Crete, whether imported or locally produced in the Cycladic style, attest to the extensive and multifaceted contacts between Crete and the Cyclades. This figurine from Koumasa in the Mesara is imported from …

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Malia, Chrysolakkos. 1800 – 1700 BC This pendant in the shape of two bees facing each other is a masterpiece of Minoan miniature art, combining different techniques. It was found in the cemetery of Chrysolakkos at Malia and is dated to around 1800 BC. It depicts two bees with open wings facing each other, joined …

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Petsophas Peak Sanctuary. 1900 – 1700 BC Small clay figurines of men and women were very common votive offerings at the so-called “peak sanctuaries”, meaning sanctuaries that were founded on hills and mountains and were active during the Protopalatial and Neopalatial periods. One such sanctuary stood on the hill of Petsophas in East Crete, where …

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Archanes, Burial Building 6. 2000 – 1900 BC Seals were used for accounting purposes, to control the production and distribution of goods and to certify transactions. This multi-sided bone seal was a funerary offering found in Burial Building 6 at Archanes Phourni. It is an impressive example of the so-called “Archanes Script”, a writing system …

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Malia. Houses west of the Palace. 1800 – 1700 BC The luxury swords and daggers found at Malia were mainly intended as display objects rather than weapons for actual use. Their elaborate manufacture, often combining precious materials such as gold and ivory, and the impressive decoration of the hilt and bronze blade made these emblems …

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